Segment-shift for typewriting-machines



0. PETERMANN.

SEGMENT SHIFT FOR TYPEWRITING MACHI NES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE s, 19H. RENEWED FEB. 21. I921.

1,387,940. htenwdAug- 16,1921.

' 76. Jfl/FI' wmmm 4a slllmlm 9 J a f k8 mmlron 4 TTORIEYS UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

OTTO PETERMANN, OF GROTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CORONA TYPEWRITERCOMPANY, INC., OF GROTON', NEW YORK; A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEGMENT-SHIFT FOR TYPEWRITING-MAOHINES Application filed June 5, 1917,Serial No. 172,855.

.To all whom it may concern:

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Groton, county ofTompkins, and State of New York, have invented certaln new and usefulImprovements in Segment-Shifts for Typewriting-Machines, of which thefollowing 1s a specification.

The principal object of the inventionis to provide simple and efficientmeans whereby the type bar segment may be vertically shifted withrespect to the platen to permit the use of type heads carrying aplurality of characters.

Another important object of the lnvention is to normally look the typebar segment in its upper position, and to provlde key-operated means forreleasing the said lock and lowering the type bar segment to its severalcase positions. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide key actuated means forlowermg the type bar segment toits intermediate case position, the saidmeans also moving into the path of the type bar segment a properlypositioned stop, means being provlded to automatically remove said stopfrom the path of the type bar segment when said segment'is returned toits normal upper pos1- tion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a type bar segment shiftmechanism simple in construction, and which may be I panying readilyassembled.

With these and other objects in view, the invention 'will be hereinaftermore particularly described with reference to the accomdrawing, whichforms a part of this application, and will then be polnted out in theclaims at the end of the descrlption.

, In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the shift mechanism inits normal position, the type bar segment being shown in sectional viewI Fig. 2 is a simllar vlew, showing the type bar segment lowered to itsintermediate position Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the type barsegment in its lowermost position; and

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectlonal yiew on an enlarged scale, of thestop for l1m1tingQ the upward movement of the segment.

eferrmg to the various parts by numerals, 1 designates the type barsegment Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 16', 1921.

Renewed. February 21, 1921. Serial No. 446,865.

' which, of course, may be of any suitable con- Be it known that I,O'r'ro PETERMANN, a

ed through the bar 2 is a guide andstop sleeve 3, the lower end of whichforms a stop to limit the upward movement of the segment. The stopsleeve is secured to the bar 2 in its adjusted position by a lock nut,and the upper end thereof is in the form of an adjustlngnut. Formed onthe segment bar and extending rearwardly therefrom is a'stop lug 4, andconnected to said stop is an upwardly extending spring 5, the upper endof said spring being suitably secured in the machine frame. This springnormally holds the segment bar in its upper position and against thestop sleeve 3. Pivoted in the machine frame below the forward edge ofthe segment bar and at any suitable point 'therealong is an upwardlyextending look ing pawl 6, said pawl being pivoted at its lower end. Theupper end of this pawl is beveled rearwardly and downwardly, and isadapted to fit under the forward edge of the segment bar when thesegment bar is in its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 1. A pring 7,is connected to the pawl 6 and yieldingly holds itin its lockingposition under the segment bar.

Pivoted in the machine frame are two shift levers 8 and 9, lever 8 beingthe figure shift, and lever 9 being the cap shift. The'se levers aremounted on a common pivot 10, directly below the segment bar. The figureshift lever 8 is provided at its rear end, closely adjoining itspivotalpoint, with an upwardly extending arm 11, said arm being providedat its upper end with a forwardly projecting dog 12, which is adapted toengage the locking pawl 6 on the rear edge thereof, a suitable distancebelow the segment bar. A springv 13 normally maintains the figureshift-lever Sin its normal at-rest position; and formed on said lever isan upwardly extending arm 14.,whose upper end is bent inwardlyover alink 15. This link is pivoted at its frontend at a point forward of thearm 14,;and its rear end is pivoted to the lower endfcof a lug 16extending downwardly from the se ment bar. A stop 17 is suitably mountedin the machine below the lug 4:, said stop 17 being verticallyadjustable and limiting the downward movement of the segment bar. It ismanifest that by depressing the figure shift lever 8, the locking pawl 6will be'moved forwardly out of engagement with the segment bar, and thearm 14 will then engage the link 15 and move the segment bar downwardlyuntil its stop lug 4 engages the stop 17. This is the lowermost positionof the segmentbar and is shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Uponthe release of the shift lever 8 the segment bar will be re turned toits upper normal position by the spring 5 and the locking and supportlngdog 6 will be drawn rearwardly into engagement with the segment bar bythe spring 7. The spring 13 will return the shift lever 8 to its normalat-rest position.

The shift lever 9 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 18, whichis adapted to engage the rearwardly extending lower arm 19 of thebell-crank stop lever 20. The other arm of said stop lever extendsupwardly, and is provided with a stop screw 21 which is adapted to beswung forwardly into the path of the stop lug 4: of the segment bar. Aspring 22 normally holds the upper arm of the bell-crank lever against arigid stop pin 23. A spring 24 returns the shift lever 9 to its normalat-rest position; and this lever is provided with an upwardly extendingarm 25 whose upper end is bent laterally over the link 15, as shownat26. The lever 9 is provided at a point closely adjoining its pivot withan upwardly extending release arm 27, Whose upper end isprovided with areleasing dog 28, adapted to engage the rear edge of the locking pawl 6to move said pawl forwardly out of locking engagement with the type barsegment.

It is manifest that on depressing the ca shift lever 9, the extension 18thereof wil first engage the lowerarm of the bell-crank lever 20 andswing the stop screw 21 forwardly into the path of the stop lug 4. Thereleasing arm 27 will swing forwardly and release the locking pawl 6from the type bar segment. The arm 25 will move the li k 15 downwardly,and thereby move the type bar segment until the stop lug 4 engages thestop screw 21. This is the intermediate position of the type barsegment, and is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Upon the releaseof either one of the shift levers the spring 5 will return the segmentto its upper normal position, and the locking pawl 6 will be moved intolocking engagement therewith. It is manifest that if desired, anysuitable form of locking means may be provided to lock the shift leversin their depressed positions to thereby lock the segment bar in eitherone of its case shift positions.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that simple and efficient shiftmechanism is tively little force; that said shift mechanism is adaptedfor use in various forms and constructions of typewriting machines; andthat said shift mechanism may be readily made and assembled. Byadjustingthe stop sleeve 3 the upper or normal position of the segment may benicely determined to set the segment at any desired point.

Claims 1. Case shift -mechanism for typewriting machines comprising atype bar segment, an adjustable stop for determining the normal positionof the segment, a spring for normally moving said segment upwardly intoengagement with said stop, a locking dog having a cam surface adapted toengage the under side of the segment to wedge and hold said segment inits normal upper position, a case shift lever, and means operated bysaid lever to release the locking dog and move the segment downwardly toa different case position.

2. In a segment shift for typewriting machines, the combination of atype bar segment, a spring for holding said segment in its upperposition, a locking pawl yieldingly engaging the segment and holding itin its upper position, a case shift lever provided with an arm adaptedto engage the locking dog to release said dog from the segment andprovided with a second arm adapted to lower the segment to apredetermined stop.

3. In a segment shift for typewriting machines, the combination of atype bar segment, a spring normally holding said segment in itsupperposition, a locking dog engaging said segment to hold it in its upperposition, a case shift lever provided with an arm adapted to engage saidlocking dog to release it from the: segment, an arm formed on said caseshift lever, and a lowering means connected to the segment and adaptedto be operated by said latter arm to move said segment downwardly to apredetermined stop.

4. Double case shift mechanism comprising a type segment, spring meansfor moving said segment to a normal upper position, a pair of swingingabut-ments supported different distances above the bottom of-the machineadapted to prevent downward movement of the segment when the segment isin its upper and intermediate positions, spring means for normally movmgthe upper abutment to segment arresting position and the lower abutmentout of segment-arresting position, means for arresting the segment inits lower position, a pair ofshift levers, a rigid member pivotallysupported on a stationary part of the machine and connected with thesegment mal position to a different case position,

means connected to the segment adapted to return the segment to itsnormal position upon the release of said key lever, and an adjustableguide and stop sleeve surrounding said post and adapted to be engaged bythe segment to determine the normal position of said segment.

6. Case shift mechanism comprising a type segment, means for moving thesegment upwardly to a normal case position, a rigid member pivotallysupported on a stationaryv part of the machine and connected with thesegment, a swinging latch adapted to hold the segment in its normalelevated position, a'shift key, alever operable by said key, means forpivotally supporting said lever,

rigid upwardly extending means carried by said lever adjacent its pivotadapted to trip said latch, and rigid means carried by said leverforward of its pivot overlying a part of said rigid member between itspivot and point of connection with the segment and adapted to rock saidmember downwardly when the shift key is depressed. I

.7. In asegment shift for typewriting machines, the combination of atype. bar segment, a case shift lever, a locking pawl holding thesegment in its normal upper position, means on the case shift lever torelease said pawl from said segment, a rigid lower stop, a movableintermediate stop, means operated by the case shift lever to move theintermediate stop into the path of the segment, and means for returningthe segment to its upper normal position upon the release of the caseshift lever. I

8. Case shift mechanism comprising a "type segment, spring means formoving the segment to a normal upper position, a sw1ng-. ing abutmentfor holding the segment in its upper position, means for normally movingsaid abutment to holding position, a rigid member extending transverselyof the plane of the segment and connected therewith at one end, meansfor pivotally supporting said member at its other end, a shift-key, alever operable by said key, and means for pivotally supporting saidlever adjacent its rear end, said lever being formed with an integralupwardly extending abutment-tripping arm adjacent its pivot and with anintegral up;

wardly extending hook portion forward its pivot overhanging said rigidmember.

. 9. Case shift mechanism for typewriting machines comprising a typesegment, stationary means for limiting the upward movement of thesegment, spring means for normally moving the segment to its uppermostposition, a swinging abutment for holding the segment in its uppermostposition, springmeans for moving said abutment to segment-holdingposition, a rigid member pivotally connected. at its opposite ends withthe segment and a stationary'part of the machine, a shift key, and alever carrying said key provided with two rigid portions one of which isadapted to engage and swing said abutment out of segment-holdingposition and the other of which is adapted to en-. gage said rigidmember intermediate its ends and rock said rigid ember. downwardly aboutits fixed pivot when the key is depressed.

10. A segment shift for typewriting ma.- chines, comprising a type barsegment, a spring for holding said segment in itsnormal upper position,a locking do engaging said segment and holding it in its 1ormal upperposition, two case shift lev rs, a link connected to the segment andadapted to be engaged by each of said levers to lower the segment tocase shift positions, a rigid lower stop for the segment, anintermediate movable stop for the segment, and means operated by one ofthe case shift levers to move said intermediate stop into the path ofthe se ent.

11. ase shift mechanismfor typewriting machines, comprising a type barsegment, a vertical guide post held thereto, an adjustable guide andstop sleeve embracing said post, means for moving said segment to itsnormal position in engagement with one end of said sleeve, a locking doghaving a beveled face adapted to engage the segment to hold said segmentin its normal 'position in engagemet with said sleeve, a keylever, andmeans operated by said lever to release the locking dog and move thesegment away from said sleeve to a difierent case position. 12. Caseshift mechanism for typewriting machines comprising a type segment.stationary means for limiting the upward movement of the segment, springmeans for normally moving the segment to its uppermost position, aswinging abutment for holding the segment in its uppermost position,spring means for moving said abutment to segmentholding position, arigid member pivotally connected at its opposite ends with the segmentand a stationary part of the machine,

mum downward movement of the segment, a movable stop adapted to arrestthe segment in an intermediate posit on, spring means stationary meansfor determining the maxiof which is provided with an arm for engagingand shifting the movable stop into segment-arresting position.

13. Case shift mechanism for typewriting machines, comprising avertically 'shiftable member for varying the relation between the typeand platen, a spring-held latch for holding said member in its normalcase position, a link connected at one end to said memher and pivotallysupported at its other end, a pair of key levers each having an armadapted to engage said link to move said member from its normalpositionrelatively different distances, a fixed stop for determining the maximummovement of said member, a movable intermediate stop normally out of thepath of said member, means carried by one of said levers for movingtheintermediate stop into the path of said member, and means carried byeach of said levers for releasing said latch.

14. A segment shift for typewriting machines, comprising a typebarsegment, a spring normally returning said segment to its upper normalposition, a locking pawl holding said segment in its upper position, aforwardly extending link connected to said segment, a pair-of shiftlevers, each of said levers being provided with an arm adapted to engagesaid link and to move said link downwardly different distances, a rigidlower stop, a movable intermediate stop normally-out of the path of thesegment, and means carried by one of the shift levers for moving theintermediate stop into the path of the segment.

15. A segment-shift for typewriting machines, comprising a segmentnormally raised, a non-movable lower stop, a movable intermediate stop,a pair of key-levers and associated devices for bringing the segmentdown into contact with one or the other of said stops, and a lockingmember for locking the segment inits up position, each of sald leversbelng provided with an arm adapted to shift said locking members tounlocking position when the lever is operated to brin the segment down.

16. ouble case-shift mechanism for typewriting machines, comprising' atype segment movable downwardly from a normal position to either of twodifferent lowerposi-- tions, two swinging abutments supported differentdistances from the base of the machine for preventing downward movementof the segment when the segment is in its upper and intermediatepositions, means for normally holding the upper abutment insegment-arresting position and the other position, and means carried bythe other lever for simultaneously swinging said abutments to move theupper abutment out of segment-holding position and the other abutmentinto segment-arresting position.

' 17 Case shift mechanism for typewriting machines, comprising anormally elevated member shiftable downwardly for varying the relationbetween the type and platen, an adjustable stop for determining thenormal elevated position of said member, a spring for normally moving.said member upwardly toward said stop, a locking device having a camsurface adapted to engage and wedge said shiftable member against theadjustable stop, a key lever, means operable by depressing thekey-carrying end of said lever for shifting said locking device out ofengagement with said member, a spring acting directly on the lockingdevice for forcing the cam surface of the device against the member, andconnections between said key lever and said member for shifting themember position movable in a plane fore'and aft of the machine, a springnormally forcing said abutment to segment-holding position, a key leveroperatively connected to lower the segment when its key-carrying end isdepressed, an arm carried by said lever extending upwardly to a point inthe rear of said abutment and adapted to rock said abutment out ofsegment-holding position when the lever is operated to lower thesegment, and spring means for restoring the segment to its normalelevated position when the key lever is released.

19. Case shift mechanism for typewriting machines, comprising avertically shiftable member for varying the relation between the typeand platen, a forwardly extending element movable with said member,spring means for moving said member to a normal elevated position, aspring-held latch for locking said member in its normal position, and akey-operated lever provided with an upwardly extending arm adapted toengage and release said latch and an upwardly extending arm having alaterally extending projection at its upper end overlying said forwardlyextending element intermediate the ends of said element and'adapted todepress the same to shift the member down-- wardl when the latch isreleased.

20. n a double segment shift for typewriting. machines, the combinationof a normally elevated type segment, arigid member having a rockingconnection at one end with the segment and having a fixed fulcrum 'atits other end, apair of key levers, upwardly extending arms rigidilyheld to said levers having upper end portions adapted to engage theupper side of said rigid member at diiferent distances from its fulcrumand pull the segment downward different distances, av

m e the combination of a normallv elevated member movable downwardly dif-ferent distances to vary the relation between the type and platen, anormally vertically extending device pivoted on an axis extendingtransversely of the machine for locking said memberin its normalelevated position, a pair of shift key levers operatively connected withsaid member to shift the member downward difierent distances, each ofsaid levers carrying a rigid arm extending upwardly to a point at therear of said device and adapted to engage and trip said device, andspring means for restoring said device to its normal locking position.

22. Case shift mechanism for typewriting machines comprising a supportshiftable to vary the relation between printing means and a platen,minimum and maximum shift keys operatively connected with the support toshift the support different distances in one direction from its normalposition, a latch for holding the support in normal position, a stop forarresting the support in its minimum shifted position, means operable bythe minimum-shift key for releasing the latch and moving the'stop intosupport ar resting position, and means operable by the maximum shift-keyfor releasing the latch without rendering the stop eifective. v

his specification signed this 24th day of May A. D. 1917.

o'r'ro PETERMANN.

